B.
I have checked out your web site just briefly and it looks real good. However I don't understand why you do not believe in the Deity of Yeshua . I'm sure no human was ever conceived in the same way He was.

Shomeir
Many Christians today realize that many pagan beliefs were incorporated into Christianity as early as the second century of the common era. This is very easy for many of them to accept; but they have a much harder time accepting that the New Testament text was also tampered with. How else could you explain the fact that, with 5366 New Testament Greek codices (from before the fifth century) in existence, no two texts are in total agreement. There are over 100,000 variants within these texts. On the other hand, you cannot find any two Hebrew Torah scrolls that don't totally agree.

For years scholars have been baffled by the fact that none of the early writers knew anything about the "virgin birth." The gospel accounts were among the last books of the New Testament to be written -- and only Matthew and Luke mention the virgin birth.

We know that many additions and changes were made to the New Testament text between the second and fifth centuries [see Bart Ehrman's book The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture] Ehrman documents over 200 places where the text of later manuscripts do not match earlier manuscripts.

We also know from the testimony of Justin, Origen, Eusebius, and others that the original Hebrew text of the Gospel of Matthew did not contain the first two chapters of today's version. Hence, no virgin birth account or genealogy in Matthew.

Virgin birth accounts go all the way back to ancient Egypt and Babylon and even farther back to the Hitites. When the customs of Mithraism were incorporated into Christianity they also adopted the virgin birth story. Two stories existed about the birth of Mithra: The ancient Hitite story is that Mithra was born of a virgin and that shepherds came to see the young baby Mithra. The first century Persian version is that Mithra was hatched, on the 25th day of December, from an egg made of stone.

You must read Origins of Our Faith: the Hebrew Roots of Christianity by Rick Richardson.

B.
So maybe the NC has been tampered with, but If I recall, somewhere in the Tanach it was prophesied that Yeshua would be born of a Virgin. Also if so much of the NC has been tampered with, how do we know what is true and what isn't? If we can't trust parts of it then how can we trust any of it?

Shomeir
You are referring to Isaiah 7:14 which is a mistranslation in the Christian versions of the Bible. The Hebrew word for virgin is "b'tulah." The word used in Isaiah 7:14 is "almah" which means "young woman." This particular verse refers to the birth of Isaiah's own son Mahershalalbaz who was also called Immanuel in Isaiah 8:8.

Probably only 5% of the text has been corrupted - but those distortions are significant. Clearly, much of the NT supports the Tanakh and the Oral Law (the Talmud, Midrash, Zohar, etc.) Long before the NT was written Paul was telling people to study the scriptures. He was referring to the Tanakh. All places where the NT clearly contradicts the Tanakh must be ignored.

B.
So If Yeshua is not Divine, then why do we WORSHIP HIM?? Wouldn't that be considered idol worship??

Shomeir
Bravo! You are getting it. Read Matthew 4:10 & Luke 4:8. Notice that Y'shua is quoting Deuteronomy 6:13 but he is adding the word "only." This squares with 1 Samuel 7:3. Where in the entire Tanakh does it say that Moshiach was to be worshipped (as a god)? Where in the entire Tanakh does it say that Moshiach would be a god? Christians have a totally different concept of Messiah than Jews do.

Look at others in the Tanakh who bore the title Moshiach. Leviticus 4:3 says, "If the Cohen, the Moshiach sins according to the sin of the people..." Leviticus 4:5 says, "The Cohen, the Moshiach shall take the blood of the bull....." In 1 Samuel 26:11,16 & 23 David says that King Saul is "the LORD's Moshiach." In 2 Samuel 19:21 David is referred to as "the LORD's Moshiach." All Cohenim, Kings, & Prophets bore the title "the LORD's Moshiach."

Look carefully at 1 Corinthians 8:6, 1 Timothy 2:5, John 20:17 (Not a lot of wiggle room in these verses).

Hashem cut the House of Israel off because of their sins: 1) Defiling the Sabbath, 2) Idolatry

If you look at the history of Christianity, you find that the deity issue did not come up until late in the second century and it was considered to be heresy at that time. The official deification did not occur until the Council of Nicea in 325 CE (early fourth century).

B.
Oh boy, now I am really getting confused. I'm sure Yeshua's mother would know whether or no she was a virgin when she conceived Him. She said "How can this be, since I have not "KNOWN" a man"? And if it was not a "virgin" birth then He had to have had a human father which would mean He was born in sin. But HE WAS SINLESS!! If He would have been born in sin, He could not have been the "spotless lamb" for sacrifice. So He had no earthly father. Father Yahweh was His father. which makes Him Divine.

Shomeir
Who says that having a human father would mean that he was born in sin? The whole concept of "original sin" does not come from the Bible it comes right out of Greek dualism. There is nothing sinful about the sexual union between a man and his wife! Does not the Tanakh say, "The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son" [Ezekiel 18:20] All human beings are born sinless. Is not Yahweh our father also? Are we not also his sons and daughters? [Hosea 1:10] Does this make us also divine?

The sentence "How can this be, since I have not KNOWN a man?" does not appear in the earliest Latin translations of the text which means that it probably did not appear in the Greek text that it was translated from.

B.
Well what you say here is very interesting. Something I am going to have to really study and pray about. It just seems so FOREIGN to me. But the fact remains that Mary was a virgin, because she did not understand how she could become pregnant since she did not know man. Please explain this. Also please tell me if there is a Scripture version that does not have all the false doctrine in it.

Shomeir
There are no versions of the scriptures containing the NT that do not have false doctrines in it. Consider this, ALL references to the virgin birth are later additions to the text. This is evident when you compare the gospels [later text] with the epistles [earlier text]. It is very easy to see which things were added and which were not just by going back to a first century Jewish paradigm and comparing it to the prevailing pagan paradigm (Mithraism) of the time. When you understand that the entire Bible is for and about Israel and you understand the concept of B'nai Noach which shaped and moved the ministry of Paul, then you can see that Israel must be saved out of their sins and return to the Torah -- but the gentiles do not need to be saved because they have not sinned. This explanation usually drives Christians crazy because of their concept of sin under the doctrine of dualism. Dualism says that the physical is evil and the spiritual is good -- but Hashem said that His creation (the physical) was good. Paul said, "Sin is not imputed where there is no law." The gentiles are not under the law and therefore are not judged by the law. Israel (the lost ten tribes), on the other hand, must be redeemed before the coming of Moshiach ben David.

B.
Well, I do understand that Paul (as well as the other writers in the NT) were writing to the Lost Tribes because that is who were becoming believers (being saved/redeemed). But see, I came out of the Christian "Church" into my rightful heritage as one of the lost tribes and have been learning Torah ever since. However, I did get saved in 1974 which I believed made me a Christian, but I always thought of myself as being a gentile. UNTIL I HEARD THE TRUTH. So are you saying that I did not need to be saved/redeemed until I came into my Israelite heritage??

Shomeir
You are mostly correct. Paul was, however, writing to (for the most part) gentiles who were not of Israel. It was Hashem's purpose to use the gentiles to provoke Israel (the lost tribes not the Jews) to jealousy. Read Romans chapters 9-11 and understand that when Paul says "Israel" he is referring to the lost ten tribes. When Paul is talking about Jews he says "Jews." Not all Christians are Israel but Israel will emerge out of Christianity. You were not saved until you came out of the "Church" to accept your rightful heritage. Now you must live a life appropriate for one who is saved -- you must live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of Hashem. We do not observe Torah to gain salvation -- we observe Torah because we are saved. As an Israelite you needed to be saved/redeemed. This salvation came when you understood that you must keep the requirements of the covenant. If the words of Y'shua caused you to do this then he is responsible for your salvation. This was the mission of Moshiach ben Yosef (Y'shua). Are you seeing this any more clearly now? We don't know who Israel is. We will only know when they reveal themselves by taking hold of the covenant.

B.
OK , now this makes sense to me!!! Yeshua did say that He came "only for the lost sheep of Israel"

So Judah doesn't need a Messiah?? Because they have been Torah observant all along? BUT Judah is also part of Israel. All 12 tribes are Israelites. Not all Israel are Jews (what most people think) but Judah is part of Israel. So what you are saying is that JUST BECAUSE we are Israelites (of Hebrew decent) we are automatically saved????

So the Christians are NOT saved?? If this is true, what a deception this is that has been perpetrated on them!!!!!
Is this the "Great Deception"?? I always thought the "Great Deception" was the belief in the so called "Pre-Trib Rapture".

Shomeir
No! There is nothing "automatic" about it -- we still have to repent (return to Hashem). We are saved when we understand that we must live by His word. The House of Israel will be joined with the House of Judah and brought back to Eretz Yisrael (the land of Israel) to become the Kingdom of Hashem. This will be the final stage of the redemption. Together Israel and Judah will be ruled by Melech Moshiach (Moshiach ben David). Indeed, Christians are not saved -- Those who are Israel among them must be saved and those who are not Israel do not need to be saved. Salvation has only to do with the kingdom, not with the judgment and the Olam Haba (the world to come -- the afterlife). Is this making sense now?

B.
I guess I just used the wrong terminology. Because I have repented and returned to Hashem, and do understand that I must live according to His word. Only Israelites (Judah & Ephraim) will live in the Kingdom which is actually Eretz Yisrael. Then the rest of the world (gentiles) will live in the other nations of the world. Right? And they will have to come up to Jerusalem for the Feasts or they will not receive rain, and will receive plagues etc. Right?

Now here is a question for you---- How can I be a Israelite and the rest of my family ( brothers & sisters) not be?? They are Christians, and do not wish to follow in my footsteps so to speak. How could I have the blood line and not them???

I really appreciate your taking the time to answer all my questions. I attend a Messianic Congregation but have never been taught that it is only Israel that is saved.

Shomeir
The gentiles will only have to come up for the Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles). It is this one which is called the "feast of the nations.

Not to worry. Each in his own time. The T'shuva will take 40 years, and we are only 13 years into it, so they have 27 more years to get it. Eventually it will become crystal clear to everyone.

Not too many Messianic Congregations get it yet.

Have you had a chance to read Origins of Our Faith yet?

B.
No, I haven't had time to read that yet. But I will.

Does that mean we have to wait 27 more years before we can make Aliyah?? I hope not, because I'm 53 now.  I am hoping we Ephraimites could go home SOON.

Shomeir
No, it means that people will be making aliyah throughout that 27 years. But first they must make the spiritual aliyah. Right now, in Israel, there is a growing interest in the Ephraimite movement and many are supporting the idea of extending the "right of return" to the "House of Israel." We, who have been cut off from Hashem and our brothers, will finally be called "b'nai El Chai" (children of the Living G-d) [Hosea 1:10]. "All of creation waits in earnest anticipation for the revealing of the children of G-d" [Romans 8:19].

I know that it seems impossible that your loved ones will see the light and take the same path that you are taking, but some may have to pass through the fire first during the "time of Jacob's trouble," "the birth pains of the Moshiach," "the tribulation." Don't worry, what ever happens and however it happens is all in Hashem's plan.

B.
AMEIN, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH!! I WILL GO TO YOUR WEB SITE AGAIN AND START READING WHAT YOU HAVE THERE. MAY YHWH RICHLY BLESS YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS IN LEADING ME TO TRUTH WITH ALL MY QUESTIONS!!!!